Folding table latch



U. K. JOHANNSEN FOLDING TABLE LATCH May 11, 1943.

Filed June 3, 1940 FIG- l2.

(/Do /y JOHAN/vang ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED 'STATES PATENTOFFICE FOLDING TABLE LATCH AUdo K. Johannsen, Cortland, N. Y., assignorto The Brewer-Titchener Corporation, Cortland, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,470 4 Claims.` (Cl.311-87) My invention broadly relates to a portable folding table and ismore particularly directed to a-n improved leg latch for collapsiblebanqueting tables or the like, having a four-legged metal understructurein which mated legs are independently operable in pairs and adapted tocompactly infold about companion guide linkages when not extended foruse.

The complementary guide links herein resorted toY are preferably of akind more explicitly defined in my prior PatentV No.V 2,075,778 issuedMarch 30, -1937.- While such linkage has -been found wholly suitable forordinary purposes, it has 4proved deficient in certain respects whenerected tables of this type are being skidded lengthwise along asustaining oor into end to end row formation for banqueting needs. Undersuch severe service there is a tendency to wedgingly lift an unloadedtable board and thereby allow one pair of erected legs to initiatecollapse. In order to obviate such behavior, I have now devised areleasable interlock thatl automatically follows up and positivelyretains the erected legs against unwanted skidding collapse.

Such leverized latch is further provided with cam means that actuatesthe latch to clear itself while the table legs are being manipulated.

The object of the present improvements is to provide for a sturdy butinherently light weight table of the character indicated in which thelink guided leg ends shall under all conditions be latched againstinadvertentl collapse after the respective legs have been brought intoerected posi= tion.

Embodied herein are associated structural features such as effectivefoot pad means and other aspects designed to facilitate the economicalmanufacture and operation of the foldable table parts. Reference is hadto the accompanyingone drawing sheet which is illustrative of a cer'-tain preferred exemplication, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 represents an elevational end view of an erected folding tableequipped with my improved devices, and Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 shows a side View of thegtable understructure i-n its fullycollapsed positie-n.

Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, respectively detail in enlarged scale,different foldable linkage positions as seen from the line 4 4 of Fig.1, and Fig. 7 depicts a fragmental sectional view along '1 -'lof Fig. 4.Y

Fig. 8 details a stamped latch lever, and Fig. 9 reveals a suitableiulcrum thereof as taken along 9-90fFiE.8. u

Figs. 10 and 11 respectively detail a domed foot pad shaped to embracethe floor contacting end of a table leg.

Fig. 12 cross-sectionally shows a corrugated moulding arranged toprotect the board edge against abrasive action.

Referring more specifically to the drawing,l -I0 and II respectivelydesignate one pair of interbraced mated legs fabricated to length fromrelatively thin angle iron stock, of which each free end may betelescopically embraced by an attached foot pad I2 of the kind that willpresently be more explicitly described. When erected, eachcross-sectionally angle shaped leg is placed cornerwise of the oblongtable top I3 and respectively includes a side flange I5 and an inturnedflange I9.

Said top may be made of plywood or the like laminated board material andhave a moulding I4 tacked around the marginal edge thereof. Therespective leg side anges I5 are each apertured contiguous to the upperleg ends for receiving a guide pivot I6 therethrough. A strap or acrosssectionally angle shaped rung or other hook engaging means I'I maybe secured tothe upper region of a mated leg, preferably with one edgedirected toward the other leg end. Additional lateral rigidity may beimparted by the use of a V tie strut I8 or the like reenforcement ofwhich the apex may be braced to said rung and the divergent strut endsrespectively affixed to a side flange of the mated table legs, as shown.Such interconnecting truss not only steadies the legs against spread butpermits one of a pair of legs to be actuated by the manipulation of amated leg, Each side flange of the several legs may further be providedwith a brace link pivot 20 located between the guide pivot I6 and itsleg foot.

. A skeletonized metal framework 2| (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be firmlysecured beneath the elongated top I3 by flat headed rivets 3U so as toconstitute laterally reenforced board structure. Such lboardunderstructure preferably comprises intersecting pairs of angle ironside and end rails formed into a hollow quadrilateral shape of whichthesplaniform flange 22 is disposed to lie atwise against the board andthe endless complementary or depending flange 23 extends outwardly fromthe Vtop board in an inset relation to the perimetric trim strip I4. Incertain instances such elongated'understructure may likewise be appliedto a round table top. The overall spacing of the erected legs ispurposely confined well within the board edge and. arranged tocomfortably clear the knees of persons closely seated around my table.

Referring now to the preferred mode of pivotally attaching each upperleg end to said framework, this may be accomplished by the use ofcompanion links such as a relatively long brace link 24 and a relativelyshorter guide link 25. The depending flange of each side rail of myframework is provided with complementary pairs of link pivots on whichthe guide link pivots 26 are located in close proximity to therespective rail ends. The companion brace link pivots such as 2l arespacedly interposed between said pivots 26. are respectively directedinwardlytoward a corresponding upper leg pivot I6 to fall intosubstantial alignment with an adjoining framework rail.

Each guide link when riveted to its rail by the pivot 2S may be keptaway from the contiguous leg end by the use of a cylindrical spaceragency 28. The depending rail flange 23 may -be notched at 29 for thereception of said spacer in erected leg position. This notch permits theguide link 25 to fall into closer alignment with the framework rail,although such expedient is non-essential as far as present purposes areconcerned.

When the leg pairs are collapsed, the several guide links extendoutwardly away from their respective pivots 25 in the fashionrepresented in Fig. `3 and the leg side flanges i5 then fall intoaligned registry upon a contiguous edge of the ehdlessframe rail 23. Mytable tcp is preferably of suicient length to provide for a clearancespace between the foot endsof the non-overlap- .ping folded legs,Suchcollapsed tables may be compactly stacked .in regular order forstorage or lot shipment. To protect painted or sprayed table legsagainst superficial injury, I preferably provide each leg side ange l5with a cupped resilient buier 3| of rubber or the like material. Ascross-sectionally indicated in Fig. 6l such outstanding buffer may beexteriorly secured by a countersunk rivet 32 and allows the nextadjacent polished table top to cushioningly rest thereonin stackedI'latwise fashion Without scrufling.

When the table is to be extended for use, each pair of mated legs isindependently manipulated into erected position and swings through theintermediate position represented in Fig. 6. 'I'he upper leg end isconjointly steered into place by the links 24 and 25. By pulling anerected leg end outwardly away from the flange 22, the corfrespondinfTspacer 28 becomes disengaged, which thereupon allows each leg pair tofreely assume collapsed position.

Insetting up a row of such relatively long tables in end to endformation for banquet needs, they are after erection, likely to beskidded for some distance lengthwise of a floor. In order to obviate anypartial leg collapse, I have found it expedient to provide for a legretaining latch 33. Such releasable interlock may assume variousconfigurations but is preferably devised as a trough shaped stampedlever of sheet metal that may be pivotally attached at 34 beneath thetop board by a centralized fulcrum bracket 35 (see Fig. 8), said leverbeing longitudinally crooked to clear the collapsed rung I1 and itsadjacent depending flange 23 as in Fig. 5. When serving mated legs, suchcommon lever may terminate in a manipulative handle 35 and have an`undercut catch or hooked nose 3T disposed intermediate the lever ends.In erected leg position, said latch preferably engages the dependingrung edge in In erected table position the guide links the Fig. 4manner, there being a return spring 38 or the like means that releasablyretains said latch in operative position. While engaged, the erectedtable legs cannot vbecome separated from the top I3 even should thefloor contacting leg ends be skidded.

To release said latch, the handle 35 is deliberately rocked outwardlyaway from the rung Il. A pertinent feature of the present latch deviceresides in having the rounded edge of the angular rung I1 wipe in camfashion along the irregular inner nose contour to rockingly actuate andautomatically carry said lever against spring tension into itsinoperative Fig. 5 position whereby to compactly stow the same withinthe collapsed leg confines. By raising either one of the mated legs Illor Il, the rounded rung edge will again wipe unobstructedly in a reversedirection and allow the spring 38 to automatically throw the lever latch31 into its engaged Fig. 4 position. It may be emphasized that in lieuof the rung I1, the same hooking result is to be had by anon-centralized latch lever when made to engage a substitute lug orstanchion carried by one of the mated table legs.

To further counteract the drag effect of a. skidded leg, it is preferredto trim each floor contacting leg end with an improved foot pad I2preferably stamped from sheet metal to comprise a triangular base plate40 that is crosssectionally dome shaped for smooth gliding contact alonga hard floor at the minimum of fric-f tional drag. The respectivel plateedges may each be upturned into a leg gripping lip such as 4I (see Figs.10 and 11), certain of which lips being permanently aixed to an embracedleg end.

As regards the corrugated wear moulding I4, its profile may becross-sectionally shaped to provide for opposed partially closedmarginal beads such as 42 and 43 that are interconnected by an integralbridge strip component 44 A(see Fig. l2). The respective bead edges areshown disposed in perpendicular relation. The edge of the bead 42 maylie ush with the upper face of the top board as shown, While the edge ofthe bead 43 is inset to extend beneath said board in an abuttingrelation to the bottom face thereof. The perforated bridge strip may betightly and rapidly tacked in place by a series of drive screws 45. Saidbeads protect the board against abrasion when set up edgewise tofacilitate folding of the table legs. If desired, a thin sheet ofMasonite or other colored plastic laminate 46 may be applied as a veneerto decorate my table top.

` Other advantages inherent in the assembly of my foldable tableimprovements are believed apsaid structure and which several legsrespectively have an upper end that is Vshiftable lengthwise of a boardface, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace linkrespectively pivoted to each table leg and also to the board structure,said links being arranged to conjointly steer .an

upper leg end into and out of erected abutment with said face, hookengaging means secured to one such leg to move in unison therewith,latch lever means of which one end is pivotally mounted on the boardstructure in an interposed relation to the corresponding guide link andbrace link board pivots, said lever in a region remote from its pivotbeing provided with a hook nose prole disposed to automatically latchsaid one leg against separation from its abutting board face, and meansurging said lever into maintained contact with the hook engaging meansand which hook engaging means serves to rock the lever counterwise tosuch urge alongside said board face when said leg is collapsed.

2. A collapsible table or the like adapted to unfold into erectedposition, said table comprising a top board structure, mated ioldablelegs at opposite regions of said structure and which several legsrespectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise of andtoward or away from a board face, a relatively short guide link and alonger companion brace link for each such leg, said links beingrespectively pivoted to the leg thereof and also to the board structureand arranged to conjointly steer an upper leg end toward said face intoerected position, rung means interconnecting a pair of such mated legs,latch lever means of which one end is pivotally mounted on the board,said lever intermediate its ends being provided With a hook nose profileadapted to latch said pair cf rung interconnected legs againstseparation from the board face when erected thereon, and means urgingsaid lever into maintained engagement with said rung means and whichrung means serves to rock the lever counterwise to such urge into aposition alongside said board face when the last named pair of legs arecollapsed.

3. A collapsible table or the like adapted to manipulatively unfold intoerected position, said table comprising a top board structure, matedfoldable legs at opposite regions of said structure and which severallegs respectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise oi aboard face, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion bracelink for each such leg respectively pivoted to conjointly steer theupper leg end thereof toward said face into erected position, hookengaging means carriedby a foldable leg and which means is locatedinwardly from the leg pivot of its corresponding guide link, and aspring urged latch lever provided with a nosed profile disposed toautomatically latch said hook engaging means when the correspondingsteered upper leg end is brought into erected position, said hookengaging means upon being released serving to wipe lengthwise of saidprofile to positively actuate the lever against spring tension.

4. A collapsible table or the like adapted to manipulatively unfold into.erected position, said table comprising a top board structure, matedfoldable legs at opposite regions of said structure and which legsrespectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise of a boardface, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace linkfor each such leg respectively pivoted to conjointly steer an upper legend thereof toward said face into erected position, rung meansinterconnecting a pair of such mated legs, and a longitudinally crookedlatch lever pivoted to the board structure, said lever intermediate itsends being provided with a hook nose prole adapted to latch said pair ofrung interconnected legs against separation from the board face whenerected thereon, and means urging the lever into maintained engagementwith said rung means and which rung means serves to carry the levercounterwise to such urge into a position alongside said board in anunderlying relation to the rung means when the last named pair of legsare collapsed.

UDO K. JOHANNSEN.

